Our lab has broad interests in ecological and evolutionary genetics/genomics, and
we are particularly fascinated by the extraordinary amount of diversity that can be
seen not only in natural populations, but also within a single crop species. Our major
research goal is to understand the processes and mechanisms that lead to this remarkable
genetic, phenotypic, and ecological diversity. Topics of special interest are identifying
genetic and genomic changes underlying phenotypic differences and the role of selection
acting upon these.

We also have strong interests in preserving biodiversity and understanding the threats
and consequences of its loss. Our lab uses population and ecological genetic approaches
in both crops and wild relatives to address these questions. Many genetic and genomic
tools are readily available and transferable from crops to wild species, and likewise,
findings from studies of wild populations, such as traits beneficial for breeding,
are transferable to crops.